52 THE FOREST LANDS OF FINLAND. 



the boundary between Russia and Sweden, and after the 

 peace settled at Nystad in 1721, separated the Govern- 

 ment of Wyborg from the other part of the Russian 

 empire, and which forms now the boundary between the 

 Province of Finland and the Government of St. Petersburg. 



' There are also artificial water communications by 

 canal in Finland. The only canals made by the Russian 

 Government hitherto are those which were constructed 

 for military strategy after the peace of Abo, in 1743, to 

 enable the fleet of the Saima to be brought from Willman- 

 strand to Nyslot without touching on Swedish territory ; 

 with this view four canals were constructed, namely those 

 by Kutwelentaipale, Kayhka, Kukontiapale, and Telataipale. 

 And these, now that all Finland is united, have lost their 

 importance. 



' Although Finland is destitute of such canals as pro- 

 mote commerce, much has been done to facilitate inland 

 navigation, by clearing the rivers from obstructions, remov- 

 ing stones from waterfalls and rapids, and by deepening 

 the shallower water-courses. 



' By these means also has the superficial extent of the 

 waters been diminished. A number of lakes have been 

 drained, marshes have been dried, and extensive stretches 

 of fertile land, suitable for agriculture, and more especially 

 for the growth of grass, have been gained/ 



Such is Finland I shall not say a land, but a country, 

 a large proportion of which is covered with water ! I have 

 endeavoured to follow literally the statements of Dr. Rein. 

 They relate to 1839, a time, it should be noted, previous 

 to the construction of the Saima Canal, 



